Please be advised: this website contains the names, images and voices of people who are now deceased.

Collections WA has a responsibility to preserve and make accessible the history and culture of Western Australia in all its various forms. The intention of Collections WA is to support research, and to reveal actions of the past that have impacted upon communities, families, and individuals.

In doing so, Collections WA acknowledges the need to respond sensitively and appropriately in cases when accessing this material may be confronting to Aboriginal visitors and clients.

Please also note: Some historical materials within this portal may include language or opinions that today are considered inappropriate or even offensive. Collections WA does not endorse this language and apologises for any distress caused.

Continue

Continue showing cultural advice

Stop showing cultural advice

Collections WA brings together collections from libraries, galleries, museums, archives, historical societies, cultural organisations, community groups and other collecting organisations across Western Australia.

Embroiderers' Guild of WA Textile Museum > Records

CARVING, BAG

« Prev Item Next Item »

Overview

This item is an inrō, a traditional Japanese tiered container used by men only, suspended from the obi, or waist sash by a silk cord on the kimono in 19th century. It was counter balanced by a carved netsuke, a decorative toggle.

The top and bottom and each compartment is pierced at each side through which a purple, braided cord is threaded through. The inro was closed by sliding a bead called an ojime, down the cord to the top of the inro.

This ivory Inro has three compartments which likely held tobacco, seals, traditional medicines such as ginseng and cinnamon or writing materials. The netsuke is a carved mahogany frog. Front and back of the inro has a black etching of a man on a horse.

Details

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-78-VC2000.332

Width

60 mm

Height or length

75 mm

Last modified

Monday, 18 August, 2025

Completeness

61

Embroiderers' Guild of WA Textile Museum

Embroiderers' Guild of WA Textile Museum

Other items from Embroiderers' Guild of WA Textile Museum

Inscribed Enro

Inscribed Enro

Media reuse | View full size | Item feedback

Scan this QR code to open this page on your phone ->

Full size unavailable (you're already seeing this image in its highest resolution available on Collections WA)

Loading...